Woodward: I'm not gambling

Clive Woodward today denied he was gambling with England's World Cup chances by picking Mike Catt and Richard Hill for Sunday's semi-final showdown against France in Sydney.

Catt, a late inclusion in the squad, has been drafted into the team along with key forward Hill, who has not played for five weeks after injuring a hamstring in the opening pool match against Georgia.

Now, both men have been asked to play the games of their lives to keep England's World Cup dream alive in a team that shows five changes from the quarter-final victory over Wales.

Woodward said: "I haven't gambled or panicked on selection. You do not gamble in the semi-finals of the World Cup and we are not gambling.

"We are going into the game with a full-strength side, and I don't expect to lose. It is a complete one-off match." Woodward's other changes see Trevor Woodman return at loosehead prop in place of Jason Leonard, with flanker Lewis Moody and centre Mike Tindall dropping to the bench for Hill and Catt. Jason Robinson replaces Dan Luger on the wing, allowing Josh Lewsey to return at full-back.

Selecting his strongest XV for the first time in the tournament obviously-gave Woodward a major buzz and he produced an assured and clever performance in front of a packed media conference at the team's Manly beach front hotel.

He dodged questions about anti-English feelings among the locals by proclaiming: "I have said for two years that Australia are the team to beat and they are going to win their semi-final on Saturday."

Not even the most ardent Wallaby fan is confident of beating New Zealand and Woodward's prediction will only increase the pressure on arch-rival Eddie Jones, the Australian coach.

England's head coach then dismissed suggestions this match was about his coaching credentials and used an ice skating analogy as he told the bemused local media: "It doesn't matter how we win. We are not Torvill and Dean looking for marks out of 10. We are here to win a game of rugby. It's all about winning.

"Picking Catt gives us the correct balance to beat France and that is what we believe we can do on Sunday."

Catt, who had to endure months of anguish as daughter Evie needed treatment for a heart problem, lost a semi-final to New Zealand in 1995 when Jonah Lomu scored four tries and ran all over the Bath player who was full-back that day in Cape Town.

He said today: "I know how hurtful it is to lose a semi-final and I won't need any extra motivation against France.

"Maybe I can bring a bit of freshness and perspective to the team. Maybe they have been a bit stale."

Andrew, who is Wilkinson's mentor at Newcastle, said: "I wasn't sure where the help for Jonny was coming from on the pitch and, finally, he started to look like himself again when Catty came on against Wales.

"It was a crucial decision to pick Catty and it was the only call Clive could make. You can see that Catty is very relaxed after a tough two years which have changed him.

"Two months ago he didn't think he would be here and now, having a family, his priorities are different and he may be the blast of fresh air this team needs to reignite their attacking play.

"With all due respect to Will Greenwood and Mike Tindall, I don't think they help or work with Jonny the same way that Catty does. They don't have the range of kicking game that Catty possesses and it changes the whole shape of the England team.

"It also gives the French another player to worry about."

Standard Sport columnist Leonard will establish a new world cap record if he comes on to win his 112th as a replacement.